The way this debate has been set up, it makes it look like the rules are the problem. The rules aren’t the problem. They aren’t stopping Republicans. Republicans are stopping themselves.
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James Wallner
29.9K posts
James Wallner
@jameswallner
Senior Fellow @JoinFAI; Write https://t.co/Uri93nDYjK; Podcast https://t.co/ZnJOp164Ph; fish…any chance I get.
Florida Katılım Eylül 2013
451 Takip Edilen5.3K Takipçiler
So maybe the more precise thing for Thune to say is, “Republicans don’t have the votes to table unknown amendments in the future to pass the SAVE America Act.”
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When Thune said, “Republicans didn’t have the votes for a talking filibuster,” maybe what he meant to say was, “Republicans don’t have the votes for the SAVE America Act.” Forcing Democrats to filibuster doesn’t require a vote. Tabling their amendments requires a vote.
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60 votes aren’t required to pass bills in the Senate. That would be unconstitutional.
Craig Caplan@CraigCaplan
Tillis (R-NC) on the SAVE America Act: "While I support strengthening mail-in ballot integrity...we should not be completely upending how states already securely conduct their elections. Even if this issue is fixed, the SAVE America Act still will not have the 60 votes required to pass it...A ‘talking filibuster’ would effectively make Chuck Schumer the new Senate Majority Leader, allowing Democrats to block every single Trump judge and executive branch nominee, and allow them to force endless votes on anything they want."
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That’s one way to avoid voting on the SAVE America Act.
Senate Cloakroom@SenateCloakroom
Vote forecast: At approximately 1:00pm, on Friday, March 20th, the Senate is expected to proceed to a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to Cal. #311, H.R.7147, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026, upon reconsideration.
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@Kremmen101 Watch their actions, not their rhetoric. If they start using the rules to win…maybe. If they don’t, then no.
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The SAVE America Act has stalled after 3 days of Senate debate. Republicans can't get 60 votes for cloture. Thune says a talking filibuster is "too risky." But there's a clear procedural path to a final vote — and it's already in the Senate rules. 🧵
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If only there was something Republicans could do…. Table.
Senate Cloakroom@SenateCloakroom
Leader Schumer filed cloture on the motion to suspend rule XXV.
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Thune is just one of 100 senators. He can’t pass the SAVE America Act on his own. It’s not his decision and it isn’t in his power to do that. If senators want to use the rules to get to a vote, they can do so, with or without Thune.
David Marcus@BlueBoxDave
I have spent two weeks, since the TX primary, using everything in my power short of semafor flags to urge Thune to pass the Save America Act. He won’t. So, let’s get something. Let’s make a start of it.
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The irony is no one is filibustering anything in the Senate at present. Republicans have even asked unanimous consent that there be several hours of debate under their control and Democrats’ control. Are they filibustering the SAVE America act then?
Chad Pergram@ChadPergram
Senate wrestling with SAVE America Act. But the filibuster stands. Don’t look for any changes to that. foxbusiness.com/video/63911834…
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@OzarkerPleb It’s not technically closing business. The Senate routinely pivots from one thing to another. It’s just an odd move when they say they want to pass a bill and Democrats won’t let them so they are going to force Democrats to filibuster but then pivot to something else.
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@jameswallner Can they do that without closing business on the save act?
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Senate Republicans insist they are committed to make Democrats filibuster the SAVE America Act. Senate Republicans schedule vote on a different bill during their SAVE America Act debate. Wait. What?
Laura Weiss@LauraEWeiss16
Update: The Senate is planning another vote TOMORROW on DHS funding, as R's try to amp up pressure for a deal Senators are then staying through the weekend w/ SAVE America Act debate ongoing. Weekend votes could include a cloture vote on an amendment to SAVE on SATURDAY On SUNDAY, a cloture vote is expected on MULLIN's nomination for DHS secretary, followed by final vote on MONDAY
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@jamiedupree Could a senator offer an amendment without having the floor if the debt were lower?
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The red ink keeps piling up - now at $39 trillion and rising. And neither party has the desire -or the will - to do anything about it. Much more in today's 'Regular Order' from Capitol Hill. jamiedupree.substack.com/p/red-ink-risi…
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After three days of debate and no real interest in using the Senate rules to win, this is the only path? If that’s the case, it’s been the only path from the very beginning. And it’s the only path because of Republicans, not Democrats.
David Marcus@BlueBoxDave
This is the right path, because now it’s the only path.
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The only people Senate Republicans are making talk right now are all of us. They aren’t making Democrats hold the floor and talk.
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@jamiedupree How can a senator offer an amendment if they don’t have the floor? I know how a senator can make a point of order if they don’t have the floor. But how can they offer an amendment if they don’t have the floor?
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@jamiedupree But a senator still has to have the floor to offer an amendment, correct?
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Just a partial list of the amendments submitted by Senate Democrats to the SAVE America Act. After 3 days, the Senate has not voted on any amendments or motions to the bill.
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@jamiedupree Amendments are unlimited as long as a senator is allowed to offer them. And the precedents are clear, a senator must have the floor to offer an amendment. So not technically unlimited. There is also a limited germaneness rule in Rule VII.
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The more surprising thing is that both Trump and Thune think they can predict and/control what the midterms will be about.
Andrew Desiderio@AndrewDesiderio
Trump says R’s will lose the midterms if they don’t pass SAVE Thune says the midterms will be about the economy Now, internecine procedural bickering over SAVE is pushing R’s off-message Hoeven: “I keep wanting to bring it back to the actual policy” punchbowl.news/article/senate…
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@jamiedupree That’s a statutory rule that doesn’t apply to this bill. It creates a special rule/procedure for specific kinds of bills. Are you saying amendments to the SAVE America Act must be German and that they have to comply with the Byrd Rule?
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